These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.

When word came to the house of David that Aram was encamped in Ephraim, the heart of the king and the heart of the people trembled, as the trees of the forest tremble in the wind. Thus says the LORD: “Take care you remain tranquil and do not fear. Unless your faith is firm you shall not be firm!” (Is 7:1-9)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071222.cfm
Many times in the Scriptures God has to remind us to not be afraid. In times like these in which we find ourselves, we, too, need to be reminded.